From the recording Somewhere to Begin
In memory of my immigrant grandpa, John Thomsen (1903-1986)
In 2009 my father (John’s son), my mother, and sister Erika traveled for the first time to Denmark
and met the children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren of my Grandpa’s sister, Mathilde. We were strangers treated like royalty, like long lost family returning home. What a joy! Amber stone is the ancient resin of millions of year old trees that wash up on the Danish shore where my Grandpa spent many days of his youth. Oh, that we could recognize the ancient resin of humanity’s family tree, and pull out all the stops for the strangers we meet, seeing them as long lost family. If we are lucky, we may find that “amber stone.”
Lyrics
Amber Stone
My father’s father left home, a young Danish lad
To cross o’er the ocean to a distant land
Bidding family farewell, the tears fell at the door
Leaving all that he loved, the sea and the shore
Chorus: There are things you can’t hold, but the heart always carries
That can only be told through the tales of fairies
To the voices of old, to the young and the merry
Lift the glass high! ‘Til we all meet again by and by
And over the years came the letters in his sister’s hand
In a language his wife and four sons did not understand
But Grandpa could read them and smile and cry, and dream
That one day his sister Mathilde again he would see Chorus
And time passes by
Dreams are lost, or get pushed aside
Then one day they have wings to fly
Take to the sky and cross over the ocean wide
Come walk with me on the shores of the Wadden Sea
Shells there a-plenty to find and to keep
And if you’re lucky you may find amber stone
To tuck in your pocket and carry home
But I found a rare thing no pocket or hand can hold
More precious than amber, more shining than gold
You were the fiddlers and we were the violins
We were the waves, you were the winds Chorus
© 2009 Sara Thomsen